The Williams Lake Community Council for Restorative Justice will be offering free facilitator training March 15, 16 and 17.
The training, which would begin Friday evening, go throughout Saturday, and finish by Sunday afternoon, is the first step in becoming a community justice forum facilitator. This role is key to the restorative justice program, which provides an alternative to the traditional justice system for situations and cases where the traditional justice system may not be the best solution.
Restorative justice helps reduce the load on the courts and offers a way for victims of crime to be directly engaged in the process and have a voice.
During restorative justice forums, facilitators help support victims in sharing the impacts of the event or crime and perpetrators in taking responsibility for their actions and offering ways to give back to the community as a productive way forward.
Restorative justice is only used in specific cases where deemed appropriate, and cases are referred to the program mainly through the courts, or the RCMP. However, files are also brought to the program through community members, School District 27, the conservation service and others.
Those who participate in and complete the restorative justice process can avoid having a criminal record.
Volunteers help support the program through a structured process involving consultation with all involved and facilitation of forums.
The training would be at the St. Andrew’s United Church in Williams Lake on Friday, March 15 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., Saturday, March 16, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and on Sunday, March 17 from 9:30 a.m. to about 1:30 p.m.
Training, meals and snacks are all provided free of charge, but pre-registration is required before March 12, 2024.
For more information, please contact Deborah Pickering at deborah.pickering57@gmail.com or 250-267-7326.
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